Traditional Cherokee Medicine And The American Culture

Traditional Cherokee medicine primarily focuses on the purity and well-being of the soul. To maintain good health and a harmonious balance with nature, the Cherokee practice various sacred prayers, herbal remedies, and rituals. The foundation of the Cherokee medical system stems from their native traditions, values, theories, and cultural politics, and their acclimation to biomedicine of modern-American society. Although Native Americans are reluctant to learn and conform to many of the European-American societal norms and Western medicine practices; federal government agencies, traditional healers, and trained biomedical practitioners are currently collaborating together to improve the general health status of the Native American population. Balance is the core value of the Cherokee Indian, not only for their vitalistic theories, but to uphold their Native American traditional culture. The Cherokee tribe combines many traditional Native American healing rituals including, prayer, he rbs, smudging, chanting, massaging, counseling, harmonizing with nature, taking hallucinogens and ceremony (Lewis, n.d.). The combination of multiple healing techniques illustrates the Cherokee’s philosophy of treating an illness does not result solely from ingesting the plant or medicine, but from the delivery of the ritual of the medicine man who activates the medicine (Frazier, Goad, Wolyniak, 2013). As the resistance of pathogens to artificial compounds grow, the desires for all-naturalShow MoreRelatedThe Eastern Band Of Cherokee Indians1175 Words   |  5 Pages The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are indigenous of parts of the Southeastern United States. They have members all the way south as Georgia and are spread out across the Appalachian mountain trail in both North and South Carolina and stretching across into Tennessee. The land in which each tribe is from has a particular way is shaping how they live and defines the important aspects of that culture. In the Eighteenth Century the Cherokee Indians were one of the most heavily populated IndianRead MoreNative Americans in USA941 Words   |  4 Pages Native Americans have inhabited this country for many generations. There are so many things that have been influenced by the Native Americans. The Native American culture is one of the richest cultures in American history. The Native Americans have a history rich in struggle, aggression, and conquest. Out of the many Indian tribes of the past, none have been more interesting than the Cherokee Indian Tribe. The Cherokee Indians were originally located in the southeast United States (â€Å"Native AmericanRead MoreEthnic, Religious And Cultural Practices During Pregnancy1516 Words   |  7 PagesEthnic, Religious and Cultural practices during Pregnancy: Native Americans vs. Western Culture The United States of America is a global village, a melting pot of various different ethnic and cultural beliefs. We are a land of many colors, traditions, and histories. With this diversity comes many challenges. As a healthcare provider this creates some challenges when working and caring for individuals who may not have the same skin color, language, health practices beliefs and values as our own (PearsonRead MoreThe Corn Women Selu Essay1252 Words   |  6 Pagesand souls of the Native American people. Some are told as they have been for thousands of years while others are still being created, refitted and reshaped today. The myths and stories of many Native Americans arise from animals, plants, medicine, the elements, music and much more. One tribe, the Cherokee, a Native North American people who once lived in the southeastern United States, has an endless amount of lore. I believe one of the most significant tales in Cherokee myths is about â€Å"the cornRead More History of Cherokee Culture and Food Essay2148 Words   |  9 Pages Before there was a United States of America, there were tribes of Native Americans living off the land. In the southeastern part of the country, the largest group of Native Americans were the Cherokee people (Boulware, 2009). Cherokees are networked through vast kinship lines that separates them from other tribes in the region (Boulware, 2009). They once occupied a territory that ran throughout the Appalachian Mountains (Boulware, 2009). Cherokees spoke a common language known as Iroquoian, differentRead MoreWomen Of The Shadow Of Men As Second Class Citizens1493 Words   |  6 Pagescenturies. However, in many countries and tribes, some women have been looked upon as equals, instead of existing in the shadows waiting on men. Then again, several tribes and countries such as the United States of America’s Native American, African American, Euro-American, and Africa’s countries Nigeria, Benin, Niger, Rwanda, Ghana, and Sierra Leone have overcome obstacles to create strong, able female leaders that rule universities, colleges, businesses, and countries judicially. The women fromRead MoreNative Americans And Western Medicine1413 Words   |  6 PagesUnderstanding Native Americans and Western Medicine Essential Knowledge for Providing Culturally Competent Care to Native Americans Brittany Schelitzche Writing for Healthcare Hennepin Technical College â€Æ' Native Americans and Western Medicine: Essential Knowledge for Providing Culturally Competent Care to Native Americans Many Alaskan Natives and Native Indians, also known as American Indians, share the same or similar views on health and medicine. Their definition of â€Å"traditional medicine† incorporatesRead MoreThe Horrors Of The American Civil War1565 Words   |  7 PagesEssay A -1 Although the horrors of the American Civil War and Reconstruction within Indian Territory were fresh. Yet, the presence of Indian Territory changed drastically between 1865 and 1889, because of the â€Å"Second Trail of Tears†, the unrest of the Southern Plains tribes of western Indian Territory, and the impact of U.S. Polices on Indian Territory. The Indian Nations lost nearly half their land due to the Reconstruction treaties of 1866, which required the land lost to be used for resettlementRead MoreNative American And Native Americans1803 Words   |  8 PagesAmericans have long been fascinated with the imagery and lore of Native Americans. From early historians to Mark Twain to Hollywood, Native Americans have been viewed as savages, aggressors, monotonal in voice, and drunks. Native Americans have had a strong influence on America’s birthplace including environmental issues to the diet and foods we eat. It was not until the arrival of the European settlers that Native Americans faced the deterioration of their civilization and culture. Events ofRead MoreEthnic, Religious And Cultural Practices During Pregnancy1605 Words   |  7 PagesEthnic, Religious and Cultural practices during Pregnancy: Native Americans vs. Western Culture The United States of America is a global village, a melting pot of various different ethnic and cultural beliefs. We are a land of many colors, traditions, and histories. With this diversity comes many challenges. As a healthcare provider this creates some challenges when working and caring for individuals who may not have the same skin color, language, health practices beliefs and values as our own (Pearson